Openable suspended ceilings



J1me 1959 F. GROSSKORTENHAUS 2,89

OPENABLE SUSPENDED CEILINGS Filed Nov. 20. 1957 s Sheets-sheaf. 1

' INVENTOR. FRED GROSSKORTENHAUS June 16, 1959 F. GROSSKORTENHAUS 2,390,533

OPENABLE SUSPENDED CEILINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1957 Ow $5M ow qm NV I II 0 mkm INVENTOR. FRED GROSSKORTENHAUS ATTUENZY June 16, 1959 F. GROSSKORTENHAUS 2,

OPENABLE SUSPENDED CEILINGS Filed Nov. 20, 1957 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FRED GROSSKORTENHAUS ATTORNEY United States Patent OPENABLE SUSPENDED CEILINGS Fred Grosskortenhaus, Deer Park, N.Y.

Application November 20, 1957, Serial No. 697,599

Claims. (Cl. 72-118) This invention relates to the art of building structures and particularly concerns an auxiliary or false ceiling construction.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary ceiling composed of a plurality of juxtaposed tiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for mounting the tiles.

A further object of the invention is to form an auxiliary tiled ceiling with openings provided with closure plates, and with means in common for mounting said closure plates and for mounting lighting fixtures on the ceil- It is also proposed to provide an auxiliary ceiling that is economical to manufacture, secure in position, and attractive in appearance.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a ceiling embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4--4 of Fig. 1, showing one clip arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified clip arrangement.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a double length tile employed as a closure plate in the ceiling.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of another closure plate arrangement.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views taken on lines 8-8 and 9-9, respectively, of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on lines 10--10 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of a lighting fixture plate flush mounted in an auxiliary ceiling according to the invention.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a channel bar employed to support tiles in the ceiling.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one form of clip used for supporting a closure plate.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of a bracket bar.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on lines 1515 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a sectional View taken on lines 16-16 of Fig. 14, the several parts being shown in exploded form.

Fig. 17 is an elevational view of a hanger clip.

Fig. 18 is an end view of the hanger clip.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged perspective view of a tile em ployed in the ceiling.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on lines 20-20 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of one form of tile.

Fig. 22 is a top plan view of a double length tile.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a tile used as a closure plate.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a slat used as a spline in the tile assembly.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view of a portion of a T-bar used in a closure plate assembly.

Fig. 26 is a side elevational view of a modified form of bracket bar.

Referring to Figs. 1-4, an auxiliary ceiling made in accordance with the invention includes a plurality of square tiles 30. Each tile, as best shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, has a continuous peripheral groove 33 formed therein. The lower peripheral side portions 34 of the tile extend outwardly further than the upper peripheral side portions 36. This setback structure of the upper portions permits the sides of the tiles to be conveniently mounted on adjacent supporting channel bars 38.

The structure of channel bar 38 is most clearly shown in Fig. 12. A single strip of sheet metal is bent to form a vertical wall 40 and to form a flange 41 extending laterally in one direction from the top of wall 40 for the length thereof. The strip is bent and doubled upon itself to form a two-layer flange 42 at the bottom of the wall extending in a direction opposite to the direction of flange 41, the material of the strip continuing laterally of the wall 40 in the same direction as the flange 41 to form a single layer flange 43 disposed underneath and spaced from the upper flange 41. The long free edge of flange 43 is turned upon itself as indicated at 44. The vertical wall 40 and upper and lower flanges 41 and 43, respectively, constitute a channel structure. The flanges 42 and 43 fit in opposed grooves 33 of the sides of adjacent tiles 30, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Short, flat, rectangular plates or splines 29 are inserted in the grooves 33 at the opposite ends of the tiles between channel bars 38, as shown in Fig. 3.

A plurality of hanger rods or bars 50 are secured in the roof or main ceiling 51 shown as made of concrete, the rods depending downward therefrom. Attached to the vertically disposed bars 50 are horizontally disposed channel bars 55. These channel bars as secured to hanger bars 50 by bolts 57 and nuts 58. The channel bars 38 are removably secured to channel bars 55 by wire clips 60 which are best shown in Figs. 17 and 18. These clips are formed from a single piece of stiflly flexible wire bent to a generally U-shaped form with a straight bight 61 and fingers 62 extending forwardly from the legs 63. The clips are mounted over bars 55 so that the bights '61 overlie the tops of the bars while the legs 63 straddle the bars. Fingers 62 engage under the flanges 41 of bars 38 to hold the latter bars in parallel coplanar disposition perpendicular to bars 55.

A horizontally disposed flat auxiliary ceiling is thus defined by the several tiles 30 when they are mounted on bars 38. The auxiliary ceiling is spaced from the main building ceiling 51 a distance depending on the length of hanger rods 50 and the width of walls 40 of the tile mounting bars.

At the margins of the auxiliary ceiling, channel bars 65 may be provided to engage and support the outer sides of the end tiles 30, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These bars 65 may be supported by screws 66 in the vertical walls 67 of a room.

In order to provide access to the space between the auxiliary ceiling and the main building ceiling 51, an opening is provided by means of a removable tile indicated at 70, the tile serving as a closure plate. The dimensions of the lower peripheral portion 34 of this tile 70 are the same as the dimensions of the lower peripheral portions 34 of the other tiles 30, Groove 33,

3 however, extends only around three sides. The overhanging portion of the top portion 36 at one side 71 is omitted so that side 71 is perpendicular to the top surface 72 of lower portion 34, and extends up to the top of the tile. A hole 73 extends through the tile near side 71 for a purpose to be described.

A clip 75 may be used to retain the removable tile 70 in the auxiliary ceiling. This clip, as shown in Fig. 4, includes a flat rectangular plate 76 having an aper ture through which extends a screw 77. This screw has its head seated on top of the plate. A flat leaf spring 79 having a curved free end is attached to the plate by a nut 80. The curved end of the spring is arranged to grip the top flange 41 of the adjacent channel bar 38 The shank of the screw extends through hole 73. A cap nut 81 having an integrally formed flange 82 thereon is threaded on the protruding end of the shank of the screw. Side 71 of the tile is free of the adjacent flange 43 of channel bar 38 while the groove 33 at the opposite side of the tile engages flange 42 of the adjacent channel bar 38*. Splines 29 are omitted at the opposite ends of the tile 70 so that the tile which serves as a closure plate is releasable by unscrewing cap nut 81. This arrangement provides a passage through the auxiliary ceiling equal to the length and width dimensions of a single tile 30.

In Figs. and 13 are shown another form of clip somewhat similar to clip 75. The clip 85 has an upper plate 76' somewhat longer than plate 76. Screw 77 extends through plate 76 at one end thereof and is capped by the removable cap nut 81. Another short screw 86 and nut 87 are used to secure spring 79 to plate 76'. Since flanges 41 all generally extend in the same direction on the several channel bars, this longer clip 85 is used at one side 88 of a tile 70 and clip 75 may be used at the other side 71 of the tile when the tile is to be used as a closure plate. In this arrangement of the tile both peripheral portions of top 36 which overhang the groove 33 at the sides of the tile are removed.

In Figs. 1, 6 and 22 there is shown a tile indicated at 90 of double length. This tile is arranged to serve as a closure plate for an opening in the ceiling twice the length of the opening for either closure plate 70 or plate 70*. Holes 91 are provided to receive the shanks of two screws 77. Side 71 clears the flanges 43 of the supporting channel bar 38. At the ends of the tile 90 are interposed flexible T-shaped connecting bars 95, as best shown in Fig. 25. These bars have outwardly extending lateral flanges 96 on the ends of the 'U-shaped body 97. The ends of the tile 90 are engaged by one flange of each bar 95 while the other flange is engaged in groove 33 in the end of the next adjacent tile 30. Bars 95 are disposed between adjacent spaced bars 33.

In Figs. 7l0, two double length tiles 90 are used to serve as a closure plate for an opening in the ceiling of quadruple length. A hole is provided at two adjacent ends of these tiles through which extends the shank of screw 99. This screw is mounted in a bracket bar 100, best shown in Figs. 14-16. Bar 100 is rectangular and channel-shaped having leaf springs 101 supported at opposite ends by screws 103 and nuts 104. Opposite sides 71 and 88 of the tile 90 are clear of the flanges of the channel bars 38. This screw 99 is centrally located in bar 100. Nut 31 on screw 99 supports both tiles 90 at their abutting ends 102 as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. Clips 95 are disposed at the outer ends 105 of tiles 90 and are engaged in the grooves 33 of both tiles 90 and the adjacent tiles 30, as best shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In Fig. 11, there is shown a transparent rectangular plate 107 which is flush mounted with the adjacent tiles 30 in the auxiliary ceiling. This plate may serve as a cover for a lighting fixture mounted above the plate. The plate may have any desired length. In the drawing the plate is shown as equal in length to five tiles 30.

' The plate 107 is supported at each end by the bracket bar 108 having spaced screws 99, the nuts 81 on the screws 99 carried by the bracket bar supporting the plate and the leaf springs 101 being interlocked with the adjacent tiles 30.

The several tiles 30, 90, 90 may be formed of wood, fiberboard, or other suitable material. They may be specially treated to improve their sound absorbing propties in any conventional way.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. An auxiliary ceiling, comprising a plurality of rectangular tiles fixedly disposed in a coplanar array, each of said tiles having a peripheral groove in opposite sides and ends thereof, a plurality of supporting bars for said tiles, each of said bars including a straight flat vertical Wall, a flat upper flange extending peripendicular to said wall at the top thereof, and a pair of flat flanges extending laterally of said wall at the bottom thereof, the opposed grooves in the sides of adjacent tiles receiving said pair of flanges, a plurality of flat spline plates, said spline plates being disposed in the grooves at the ends of adjacent tiles between the supporting bars, a rectangular closure plate for a passage through the array of tiles, said closure plate having an aperture therein, a bracket plate, a leaf spring secured to one end of the bracket plate, said leaf spring being engaged on the upper flange of one supporting bar, a screw carried by said bracket plate and extending through the aperture in said closure plate, a flanged cap nut removably threaded on said screw beneath said closure plate, said closure plate having one ungrooved side free of the lateral flanges of said one supporting bar, and a pair of generally T-shaped clips, said clips being disposed at opposite ends of said closure plate, said T-shaped clips having lateral flanges extending into grooves at the opposite ends of said closure plate and further extending into the grooves in ends of adjacent tiles, said T-shaped clips each having a doubled flexibly formed pedestal so that one lateral flange of each T-shaped clip can be retracted from the opposite ends of said closure plate.

2. A bracket for supporting a closure plate in a tile ceiling carried by flanged channel members, comprising a flat elongated rectangular bar having longitudinally spaced threaded holes, a screw threaded in each of said holes with a head seated on said bar and with a shank having a free end extending perpendicularly to the plane of said bar, a flanged cap nut removably threaded on the free end of the shank of one of the screws to support said plate a predetermined distance from said bar, a leaf spring having an apertured flat portion and a curved free end, said apertured plate portion abutting said bar with the shank of another of said screws passing through the aperture in said plate portion, and a nut threaded on the shank of said other screw and securing the spring on the bar with said curved free end contacting the bar, said curved free end being bendable away from the bar to secure the bar adjustably on a flange of one of said flanged channel members.

3. In a tile ceiling carried on flanged channel members, the combination comprising a flat elongated rectangular bar, a screw secured on said bar and having a shank extending perpendicularly to one side of the bar, a closure plate for the ceiling having an aperture therein, said shank having a free end extending through said aperture, a flanged cap nut removably threaded on the free end of the shank and supporting said closure plate a predetermined distance from the bar, and a leaf spring secured on said one side of the bar near one end thereof,

said spring having a curved free end normally contacting the bar, said curved free end being bendable away from the bar to mount the bar adj ustably on one of the flanged channel members with said curved free end engaging under tension 3. flange of said one channel member.

4. A bracket for supporting a closure plate in a tile ceiling carried by flanged channel members, comprising a flat elongated rectangular bar, a screw secured on said bar and having a shank extending perpendicularly to one side of the bar, a flanged cap nut removably threaded on the free end of the shank to support said closure plate a predetermined distance from said bar, and a pair of leaf springs secured on said one side of the bar near opposite ends thereof, said springs each having a curved free end normally contacting the bar, said curved free end being bendable away from the bar to mount the bar adjustably on two of the flanged channel members with the curved free ends of the springs engaging under tension flanges of said two flanged channel members.

5. A bracket for supporting a closure plate in a tile ceiling carried by flanged channel members, comprising a flat elongated rectangular bar, a pair of screws secured on said bar and having shanks extending perpendicularly to one side of a bar, a flanged cap nut removably threaded on the free end of each shank to support said closure plate a predetermined distance from said bar, and a pair of leaf springs secured to said one side of the bar near opposite ends thereof, said springs each having a curved free end normally contacting the bar, said curved free end being bendable away from the bar to mount the bar adjustably on two of the channel members with the curved free ends of the springs engaging under tension flanges of said two flanged channel members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,577,638 Hess Mar. 23, 1926 1,816,450 Venzie July 28, 1931 1,984,028 Macleod Dec. 11, 1934 2,139,641 Neumeister Dec. 6, 1938 2,143,980 Guastavino Ian. 17, 1939 2,630,892 Hammitt et al. Mar. 10, 1953 2,767,440 Nelsson Oct. 23, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,035,353 France Apr. 15, 1953 1,125,026 France July 9, 1956 

